I am a Tombstone Tourist: someone who loves to wander cemeteries. I find it akin to visiting a museum: an opportunity to enjoy rarely seen sculpture, intricate carvings, and amazing architecture, all in a tranquil outdoor setting. This blog is about cemetery culture, art, history, issues of death, and genealogy - subjects of current relevance. I usually find something that intrigues me and makes me want to dig deeper. Care to join me? Read on...

Friday, January 30, 2015

We
all know that planning for our eventual demise is the right thing to do. Not
only does it help guide our loved ones in handling our affairs according to our
wishes, it also gives us the opportunity to have a final say in the matter.

But now, we have to worry about something our ancestors never did – Our digital
death! Almost all of us are part of a social media community (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+) where we share
our triumphs, our tragedies, and tidbits about our daily lives. This is a part
of our digital property.

Our
digital footprint includes not only items of financial value (In 2011, U.S.
consumers valued their digital assets at around $55,000 per person.) but also
sentimental value like genealogy research, special messages, videos and private
emails that mean something important only to us and our families.

So,
what happens to all of this information when we die? Where does it go and who
is in charge of getting it there?

WebpageFX
has put together a great graphic to show what can happen to your social media assets:

On
social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and Pinterest,
YOU are the owner of your digital data. This means that your privacy is
protected after your death unless you authorize access to someone before you
die.

Each
social site has requirements that must be met before a page is taken down. For Facebook, you
must prove you are an immediate family member. Twitter requires a death
certificate, as does Google and Pinterest. LinkedIn requires general
information such as the company the deceased worked for, your link to the
deceased’s profile, and their email address.

But
the deactivation of an account or page can take time. On Facebook and LinkedIn, a profile is not
removed until the death is reported. Twitter takes up to 6 months to deactivate an
account and Google takes up to 9
months to deactivate a profile. With Twitter and Google, your user name cannot be used again. With Facebook and LinkedIn, it can.

This becomes an even murkier area where account holders, service providers, courts, state legislatures,
and state and federal governments become involved because of the lack of clear, defined steps on
how to handle personal digital property. Questions surface every day concerning what constitutes the violation of civil
liabilities when executing the disposal of such digital property. (Not to
mention what is considered to be an act of criminal liability.)

Digital Death offers three steps to
help you manage your digital assets now, and make the process easier on your loved ones after your death.

1)
Identify your digital property. Make a
list of what you have out in cyber space and note what you would like done with these assets: maybe you want your genealogy files given to your state repository. Keep a list of your passwords, profiles, user
names and account numbers to assist your loved ones in sorting through your
digital footprint and tying up loose ends.You can make sorting through your digital assets
easier, and let your wishes be known specifically by writing down what you want done with your accounts, your photos, written materials and so forth. Then date the list and sign it, preferably in front
of a witness before storing it in a safety box and passing a copy on to your
attorney. Remember
to update your inventory list once a year so that the information is correct,
and tell a trusted relative or friend where the list is kept.

2)
Authorize access to your accounts in
writing. Who do you trust to make sure your wishes are carried out. Discuss this authorization with your attorney so that a court can make sure it's carried out to your specifications if there is a problem.

3)
Communicate your wishes to your
family and friends. Mention what you want to have happen with your digital
assets in your will, and notify your family in writing as to what you want
done.

The
flip side of this coin is that family members and online sites could act too
quickly and your digital assets might be deleted at a painful and emotional
time without regard to, or even an understanding of what you had documented as your
wishes concerning how they were to be handled.

This is not a topic that will be solved quickly or quietly. Look for more discussions and debates in the near future regarding what could happen to your digital life - now and after your death.

Friday, January 23, 2015

There
are always new cost-cutting ideas and eco-green practices being launched in
the funeral industry, many of them taken from “real life” options that we select
every day. After all, we rent homes to live in, cars to travel in when we’re on
vacation and vacation houses to stay in once there. We have no problem renting
DVDs, CDs, and audio books. And, we really don’t give a second thought to
renting more personal items like wedding gowns, tuxes, evening dresses,
jewelry, even fancy dress shoes. So why do we tend to feel uncomfortable at the
mention of renting a casket?

Sarcophagus

Coffins
have been used for burial for thousands of years. Known by several names
including sarcophagus, coffin and casket, the box, which contains the remains,
has always been a difficult choice; after all, this is the “final
resting place” of the deceased.

King Tut

Sarcophagi
were used in ancient times and by religious orders as a means to hold the remains of their royal and
powerful. A sarcophagus was carved in stone, usually bearing the appearance of
the deceased on the outside of the box.

Coffin

A
coffin is a box used to hold the remains for viewing and burial, and originally
had six sides, plus the top and bottom. Early Americans built coffins for family members from
the wood they cut and planed from local trees.

Casket and Coffin

In
the U.S., a box with only four sides, plus top and bottom, is called a casket. That change in verbiage
from coffin to casket is thanks to a marketing strategy that equated the burial
casket with the same name as a box that held precious jewels; a jewelry casket.

Burial Shroud

Regardless
of the name, this container is where we place the remains of the deceased for visitation, during the funeral and for burial after.

But,
not all societies or religions use caskets, many use shrouds; in the case of
cremation, an inexpensive casket or a biodegradable paper coffin might be used.

Simple Wooden Casket

Gold Casket Lined with Velvet

Something
to remember, the casket is one of the most expensive items purchased for a
traditional funeral. Caskets are usually crafted from wood, fiberglass, or
metal and prices for the average box can vary from $2,000 to over $10,000, depending on the
material used, extra features selected and how much ornamentation is in and on
the box.

But
you are not required to purchase a coffin for burial. There are several options
available including rentals, shrouds and biodegradable caskets.

Today, more funeral homes are offering
families the option of renting a casket for the viewing and/or funeral services. Although
a rented casket may be used numerous times, the body never comes in contact
with the casket; a liner which looks like a part of the box is placed inside
the casket for the services and afterwards it is removed with the body enclosed
for cremation or burial. (Caskets may also be rented for the visitation of someone
who wished to be cremated.)

Wicker Casket

When deciding on a casket, do your homework! You might be able to purchase a biodegradable cardboard casket
or wicker coffin for less than a rental fee, which averages from $400 to $1,200.You might find a local carpenter who will
build one for less. Or you might decide that renting a casket is
the right choice for your situation. Either way, you know you have options.

Friday, January 16, 2015

One
hundred years ago World War One was gaining momentum across Europe. But on the evening
of January 19, 1915 the war took a turn that made all participants realize it was not going to be like any other war.

On the night of January 19, three
German Naval Zeppelins, L3, L4 and L6 were to carry out the first strategic
bombing raid, but airship L6 had mechanical
problems and had to turn around. Dirigibles L3 and L4 proceeded on toward the
target, the town of Humberside, but strong winds forced the raid to end quickly, so the Zeppelins sought
targets of opportunity on which to unload their bombs.

The
towns of Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn on the eastern coast of England were
hit, instead. Four people were killed when bombs fell from the sky: Martha Taylor and
Sam Smith died in Great Yarmouth, Alice Gazely and Percy Goate were killed in
King’s Lynn that night; the first aerial bombing raid had been completed.

Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin

The first idea
for a Zeppelin came about in 1874 and was built in 1893. Germany embraced and
patented the balloon in 1895. (The U.S. issued a similar patented in 1899.)
Named for its inventor, Count Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin, the rigid steel-framed
airship was propelled with a motor and carried a crew of about 20, along with
massive amounts of hydrogen gas for fuel. The dirigible was first used to carry passengers between German cities in 1910. But the Zeppelin
was temperamental and not sturdy in high winds; it could be brought down by any adverse weather and most ended their careers
crashing to the ground due to high winds and bursting into flames.

Zeppelin Caught in Spotlights

Since
the Zeppelin did not stand up well to being fired at (hydrogen gas was
extremely flammable), the Germans decided to use the dirigibles for bombing
villages and towns that did not have weapons or military stations, thereby killing
or wounding civilians in an attempt to lower the morale of the English.

Instead
of lowering morale, such raids only re-enforced the British sense of outrage
and united English citizens against the Germans. Most Londoners would rush out
into the streets when an air-raid signal was given in order to cheer on the
English pilots defending their country against the Germans in the air.

Although
the dirigible could travel great distances, antiaircraft fire rendered the
airship practically useless in war compared to the airplanes being used in
battle.By 1915, the main use of the
Zeppelin was for reconnaissance over the Baltic and North Seas. By the end of
the year, the German Navy had 15 airships in commission. The air raids
continued into 1916. By 1917, the Zeppelin could now fly higher with an
altitude of 16,500 feet and a ceiling of 21,000 feet, but high winds and engine
problems continued to plague the ships. They were soon replaced by airplanes,
which could carry more bombs, resulting in more deaths, injuries and damage.

In
all, 84 Zeppelins were built by Germany during the war: over 60 were lost –
half to accidents, weather and mechanical problems: the other half due to repercussions
from the enemy. German Zeppelins took part in over 50 bombing raids on Britain
during WWI, killing 557 people and injuring 1,358.

In
the Treaty of Versailles it was stated that Germany could not keep any “dirigibles … dirigible sheds or shelters, or
… plants for the manufacture of hydrogen.”

It
would take a few years before Germany, again, became openly involved with the
production of Zeppelins, this time for the purpose of carrying passengers and
mail across the ocean, and around the world.

Friday, January 9, 2015

There
is a “new” angle on traditional burial – burying the body standing up. Not only
is it innovative, it is also a very green, saves space and is an economical
alternative.

It
is tradition in the U.S. to bury a person lying down with arms bent and hands
folded across the chest, usually in a wooden casket, unless your religion or
conscious stipulates a shroud. It has been only recently that have we started
gaining an interest in biodegradable coffins and burial shrouds, green
cemeteries, and other alternative funeral procedures.

Enter
Upright Burials based in
Camperdown, Victoria, Australia. Back in 1984 a group of friends had the idea
to start a business that would bury people standing up – In 2010, the company
had their first upright burial.

Upright
Burials has added a step that just makes sense – in order for the body to be
buried in an upright position, it must first be frozen solid. This is done
instead of embalming. The body is then placed in a biodegradable shroud and
buried in a vertical plot that is 10 feet deep and just over 2 feet wide. The
cost for an Upright Burial is under $3,000; that’s somewhere around half the
price of a traditional horizontal burial. But not every cemetery will accept
such an unconventional arrangement.

Tony Duplexi

While
no graveside services are held during the burial, family and friends are free
to hold a memorial service at another location. According to Upright Burials
managing director, Tony Dupleix, “We
offer a simple respectful burial where people aren't challenged to choose
between levels of guilt and love in selecting expensive coffins."

Mt. Elephant

Upright
Burials has their own cemetery - Kurweeton Road Cemetery, which is located
southwest of Mt. Elephant, an extinct volcano, located on the western plains of
Victoria. There is enough room for 40,000 such burials here. And you will notice that there are no
grave markers in the cemetery, instead the name of the deceased is placed on a
memorial wall and a tree is planted on Mt Elephant for each person buried. The
exact location of the burial can be found using GPS coordinates.

But,
while innovate, this is a centuries-old idea. More than one thousand years ago,
the Peruvians buried their royalty in an upright position, and in some ancient
societies, warriors were buried standing up as a sign of respect.

While
not the usually burial position in the U.S. (we seem to prefer laying in repose
as we await eternity), there are some noted upright burials that have occurred across
our country …

George Hancock

Hancock's Tomb

Revolutionary
Colonel George Hancock was interred in the family mausoleum at Fotheringay in
Botetourt County, Virginia standing up. Before Hancock died in 1820, he stated
that he wished to be buried standing (some say sitting) up so he could look
down into the valley below and see that his slaves were hard at work …

Brit Bailey

It
was 1812 when James Britton (Brit) Bailey purchased a parcel of Texas land from
the Spanish government. Calling it Bailey’s Prairie, Bailey moved his family
onto it and began building a cabin. After Mexico won its independence from
Spain, officials refused to recognize Baily’s rights to the land. When told to
move, Bailey refused. In fact, he continued to fight with authorities in the
area until he died of cholera in 1832. In his will, Bailey requested, “my remains (be) interred erect with my face
fronting the West." The reason, according to Bailey, “I have never looked up to any man, so I do
not want it said `here lies old Brit Bailey', but rather, `here stands Brit
Bailey.” It was also said thatBailey
was buried with his rifle at his side and a jug of whisky at his feet.

Burton's Stone

Old Burton Cemetery

In
Indiana, Patriot soldier Pvt. John Pleasant Burton requested to be buried
standing up. When he died in 1836, he was interred in an upright position in
Old Burton Cemetery near Mitchell, Indiana. Burton is the only know Hoosier to
be buried standing up.

A
Tennessee Methodist Conference circuit preacher, Rev. Joshua Boucher, was buried
standing up in Old Town Cemetery in Athens, Alabama on August 23, 1845. Boucher
had arthritis and was concerned that it might prevent him from rising on the
Day of Judgment.

In
1992, cowboy Jimmy Dale Struble was buried standing up at Glade Park Cemetery
in Grand Junction, Colorado. Struble had been confined to a wheel chair for
several years as the result of a fight. Friends said Struble had hated having
to lie down for six years so he decided to be buried standing up with his boots
on.

So,
will the advantages of saving space and being environmentally friendly change
the way we bury our dead? Only time will tell … but it does seem like a
straight-up solution.

About Me

I
love wine and will take any chance to sip, savor and share it! Hence, Joy’s JOY
of Wine http://joysjoyofwine.blogspot.com,
a weekly blog about all things wine. I've been in the industry for 15
years as a winery owner, marketing director, speaker, writer, wine judge, and
100% vino girl!

I'm
also a professional freelance magazine and book writer uncorking articles about
wine, food, history, travel, cemetery history and culture. My interest in
cemetery culture led to another great, or maybe I should say
"grave" gig, my weekly blog: A Grave Interest http://agraveinterest.blogspot.com where I get to travel around the country and speak about cemetery topics for genealogy, history and
education conferences.

I suppose you could say that wine is my
passion, and cemeteries are my diversion ... into another world.

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